The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-09-15
THE SERVICE PENSION BILL.

sacrificed themselves TO save it from the
worst Of misfortunes. If it distributed
every dollar Of the enormous accumulation
of money now in the Treasury among the
survivors of the war and their dependent
ones, and followed up this by an annual dis
tribution of its surplus income among the
same parties it would not be doing too much
for those 10 whom il owes everything. In
stead of 6 a month, we wish that ii would
pay SIS a month, or even more than that
Eight dollars a month is Of small conse-
quence TO healthy, robust man, capable of
doing fair days work. while it is pitifully
inadequate to keep the wolf from the door
of a brokendown veteran and his needy
family.
With us il is wholly question Of expe-
diency. We want eprything for the soldiers
that the people can be induced to give them.
The sole consideration is as TO what is best
to ask first, and how to ask it. We cannot
get everything at once-we must try for few
things at a time. Shall we begin by asking
for uniform pension Of IS a month for
every man who served in the army-three
months, six months, nine months, one year,
two years OF four years-ablebodied or dis
abled, sick or well-rich or poor? Or shall
we begin by asking that the brokendown
and needy shall be taken out Of or kept
from going TO the poorhoUses; that all the
men who are totally disabled from wounds
or diseases shall get SIP month, while those
who do not need it can wait awhile, and that
the more than 100000 claims pending may
FIRST be allowed, with the arrears, TO which
they are entitled, and the bOunties equal
lied?
The latter course viii commend itself to
every thinking man as infinitely the wiser
We have seen with what difficulty the peo-
pie at large have been brought TO admit
that every totally disabled soldier shall be
allowed SD a month. The opposition
TO this measure of simple decency and
Justice is still active and virulent We shall
have to fight for it every step of the way
through Congress against all the forces that
the money-power and the soldier-haters can
array against it. How much show, then,
would there be aoC for measure which pro-
poses TO pension every ex-soldier, whether he
needs it or not? 1T is hopeless TO expect
even patient hearing by this Congress
whatever future ones may dO-of such a
proposition.
We ask the most enthusiastic supporter of
the eight-dollar plan if he has the slightest
idea that the present Congress will seriously
consider that measure. lie cannot answer
yes.
is il not, therefore, vastly better that all
those who favor service pensions should now
Join their strength with those Of their COM
rades in supporting the Dependent Pension
Bill, which can and will be passed this Win
ter, and which will bring immediate relief
TO those who are perishing for the want OF
il? is it not best that the able-bOdied and
well-off shall not attempt TO crowd in before
the disabled and destitute? We can get the
disabled and destitute put on the pension
roll this Winter if we all work together
There is no telling when seryice-p pension
bill can be got through and signed by the
President, no matter how many work for it
II il did pass now il would be a death
blow TO all future graduation Of pensions
according 10 disability-the broken-dowr
veteran would not get a cent more than the
lusty, able-bodied man who has money IN
bank. il wonld be equally fatal to al
, hopes Of arrearages Of pensions, equaliza
ton of bounties, special allowances TO pris
oners of war, etc. Everything would sinl
to the level Of IS month and stay there
But If we adopt the recommendations O
f the GAR. Pension Committee now WI
promote the chances Of all other pen
sion measures by reducing the probable ex
pense of such measures 1t is therefor
shrewd policy as well as decent humanit
for the advocate Of a service pension 10 ali
in carrying out the recommendations of In
National GAR. Pension Committee Tn
more that can be put on the pension-roll
!. by il the fewer there will be 10 receive
service pension, the less the cost of such
measure, and the more fayorably viii til
= people at large regard it.
Therefore We urge, with all the intensit
that words can convey, the cordial assistant
Of every seryice-pension advocate for til
beneiicent measure, because every bill passt
q is step in the direction the service-pensic
advocates want 10 90.
Is it not wise 10 follow in this respect II
IS lead Of zach well-tried friends of the We
Fe Grams as Gen. Merrill, Corpl Tanner, Drum
4 mer-Boy Kountz, brave Serg't John c. Lin
a. han, Maj .-Gen. IL w. Slocum-the brillial
Commander of the Twelfth Corps-Ge
Burdett and Commander-in-Chief Fai
child?